The National Court
Reporters Foundation (NCRF) is accepting nominations for the Robert H. Clark
and Frank Sarli Memorial scholarships for students, as well as applications for
the New Professional Reporter Grant. The June 1 deadline to apply for each of
these awards is approaching fast. Now is the time to make sure you have all
your paperwork in order.

The Robert H. Clark and Frank Sarli Memorial scholarships are awarded to
high-achieving students nearing the end of their court reporting program who
meet a number of criteria, including being a current student member in NCRA, passing
at least one Q&A test at a minimum of 200 wpm, and achieving a GPA of at
least 3.5 based on a 4.0 standard.

“This has given me an extra boost of motivation and confidence I needed while I head into my final semester,” said Megan Baeten upon receiving the Frank Sarli Memorial Scholarship in 2018. “It will help me with the cost of schooling for this last semester without the added stress of how I will pay for it. It will also help me with some of the start-up expenses upon graduating, as well as the certification fees.”

The New Professional Reporter Grant is given to a promising working reporter
in his or her first year out of school who meets a number of criteria. These
include maintaining a current NCRA membership, graduating with a GPA of at
least 3.5 on a 4.0 standard, and submitting a recommendation from the person’s
current employer.

Beginning this year,
all NCRF scholarships are open to NCRA student members enrolled in any
court reporting program, not just NCRA approved programs. In addition, the
New Professional Reporter Grant is now open to qualifying graduates of any
court reporting program.

More scholarships and
other NCRF programs can be found by visiting NCRA.org/NCRF.

The National Court Reporters Foundation (NCRF) is now accepting nominations for the Robert H. Clark and Frank Sarli Memorial scholarships for students, as well as applications for the New Professional Reporter Grant. The deadline for all of these awards is June 1. Beginning this year, all NCRF scholarships are open to NCRA student members enrolled in any court reporting program, not just NCRA approved programs. The New Professional Reporter Grant is now open to qualifying graduates of any court reporting program.

The Robert H. Clark and Frank Sarli Memorial scholarships are awarded to high-achieving students nearing the end of their court reporting program who meet a number of criteria, including current student membership in NCRA, having passed at least one Q&A test at a minimum of 200 wpm, and a GPA of at least 3.5 based on a 4.0 standard.

“This [scholarship] has given me an extra boost of motivation and confidence I needed while I head into my final semester,” said Megan Baeten upon receiving the Frank Sarli Memorial Scholarship in 2018. “It will help me with the cost of schooling for this last semester without the added stress of how I will pay for it. It will also help me with some of the start-up expenses upon graduating, as well as the certification fees.”

The New Professional Reporter Grant is given to a promising working reporter in his/her first year out of school who meets a number of criteria, including current NCRA membership, a graduating GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 standard, and a recommendation from the person’s current employer.

The National Court Reporters Foundation (NCRF) is now accepting nominations for the Frank Sarli Memorial Scholarship and the Student Intern Scholarship. The deadline for both these scholarships is Dec. 10. Beginning this year, both scholarship opportunities are open to NCRA student members enrolled in any court reporting program, not just NCRA approved programs.

Frank Sarli Memorial Scholarship

NCRF’s Frank Sarli Memorial Scholarship of $2,000 has benefited court reporting students nearing graduation for 20 years. The award honors the late Frank Sarli, a court reporter who was committed to supporting students at the highest level of their education. Sarli, who was studying to become a professional pianist, turned to court reporting when he could no longer afford the tuition to music school. During his career, he opened Accurate Court Reporters in Orlando, Fla., Orange County’s first independent court reporting firm, and was a founding member of the Florida Shorthand Reporters Association. Sarli also served in numerous roles at the national level, including as a director for NCRA. He was the first Floridian to earn NCRA’s Distinguished Service Award.

“I chose to be a court reporter because I wanted a job that has a relatively flexible schedule to permit me to do volunteer work and dedicate time to being a minister,” said Jared Orozco, a student from Sheridan Technical College in Hollywood, Fla., and recipient of the 2017 Frank Sarli Scholarship.

“After I finish school, my ultimate goal would be to work in transcribing sermons to expedite their translation so it can be of benefit to people all over the world,” he added.

Court reporting students must be nominated by an instructor or advisor and meet a number of specific criteria to be eligible, including:

enrollment in a court reporting program

passing at least one of the court reporting program’s Q&A tests at a minimum of 200 words per minute

having a GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale,

demonstrating the need for financial assistance

possessing the qualities exemplified by a professional court reporter, including attitude, demeanor, dress, and motivation

Each year, NCRF awards two $1,000 scholarships to students who have completed or are currently performing the required internship portion of their court reporting program. They must also meet other specific criteria, including:

enrollment in a court reporting program

current membership in NCRA

having a grade point average of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale

A generous annual donation from the Reis Family Foundation helps fund these scholarships.

“Court reporting has always been the one job that has stuck out in my mind as my ‘dream job.’ I was always discouraged from going into this career because people are very misinformed about the opportunities available for a court reporter,” said Summer Vaughan, a student from College of Court Reporting in Valparaiso, Ind., one of two recipients of the 2017 Student Intern Scholarships. “Once I began my court reporting internship, I knew I was right where I had always wanted to be,” she added.

NCRF’s scholarships and grant are supported by donations to the NCRF Angels Drive and other fundraisers. To learn more about these scholarships, and to find the nomination forms, please visit NCRA.org/NCRF.

The National Court Reporters Foundation (NCRF) has announced that Jared Orozco, a student from Sheridan Technical College in Hollywood, Fla., was named recipient of the 2017 Frank Sarli Memorial Scholarship. The Foundation also announced that Summer Vaughan, a student from College of Court Reporting in Valparaiso, Ind., and Analisa Arnold from Gadsden State Community College in Gadsden, Ala., are the recipients of the 2017 Student Intern Scholarships.

Frank Sarli Memorial Scholarship

“I chose to be a court reporter because I wanted a job that has a relatively flexible schedule to permit me to do volunteer work and dedicate time to being a minister,” said Orozco. “After I finish school, my ultimate goal would be to work in transcribing sermons to expedite their translation so it can be of benefit to people all over the world.” He plans to use the scholarship funds to purchase a much-needed computer as well as CAT software.

Jared Orozco

The Frank Sarli Memorial Scholarship is a $2,000 award, given annually to a high-achieving court reporting student. This scholarship honors the late Frank Sarli, a court reporter who was committed to supporting students through years of service on NCRA’s committees and boards that guide the education of court reporting students. Recipients are nominated by their schools and must meet specific criteria, including:

having a GPA of at least 3.5

passing at least one of the court reporting program’s Q&A tests at a minimum of 200 wpm

possessing all the qualities exemplified by a professional court reporter, including professional attitude, demeanor, dress, and motivation

“When called upon to read back in class, Jared summons his talent to imitate accents, ranging from Darth Vader to Southern drawl, to amuse and enthrall his classmates. However, when it comes to integrity, honesty, professionalism, and altruism, Jared is very serious,” said Aurora Joslyn, CRI, an instructor at Sheridan Technical College. Joslyn added: “Now, thanks to the Frank Sarli Memorial Scholarship award, Jared can proudly take his place among the ranks of professional court reporters equipped with the tools for success.”

Student Intern Scholarships

Summer Vaughan

“Court reporting has always been the one job that has stuck out in my mind as my ‘dream job.’ I was always discouraged from going into this career because people are very misinformed about the opportunities available for a court reporter,” said Vaughan, who had pursued a paralegal degree before entering court reporting. “Once I began my court reporting internship, I knew I was right where I had always wanted to be. The reporters I interned with have been so welcoming, helpful, and encouraging. Nearly all of them have continued to follow my journey and have cheered me on every step of the way.” Vaughan plans to put the scholarship funds towards professional software and certification fees.

“Summer will be a successful professional because she has grit. She not only has the skill but the mental fortitude, determination, and desire to be an outstanding court reporter. That same grit or perseverance that took her through court reporting school with honors will be what propels her into a highly accomplished career,” said Nicky Rodriquez, the director of admissions at College of Court Reporting. “Summer is very deserving of this scholarship and will, without a doubt, make a positive impact on the court reporting profession for years to come.”

The Student Intern Scholarship is a $1,000 award, given annually to two high-achieving court reporting students who have completed the internship portion of their education. Recipients are nominated by their schools and must meet specific criteria, including:

having a GPA of at least 3.5

passing at least one of the program’s Q&A tests at a minimum of 190 wpm (if pursuing judicial reporting) or at least one literary test at a minimum of 160 wpm (if pursuing captioning)

possessing all the qualities exemplified by a professional court reporter, including professional attitude, demeanor, dress, and motivation

Analisa Arnold

“Not only is the internship experience a great opportunity for easing fears a student may have about moving from the educational environment to the professional realm, but it also gives an in-depth chance to experience the multifaceted scene of court reporting. The most important lesson I learned from my internship process is court reporting is more than just a job; it’s a rewarding career opportunity that benefits so many people,” said Arnold. She plans to put the scholarship funds toward the start-up costs as she moves forward as a professional.

“Analisa Arnold is a well-rounded young lady who has high ambitions and this keeps her motivated to persevere through all the ups and downs as a reporting student,” said Michelle Roberts, CRI, an instructor at Gadsden State Community College. “Her practice habits throughout her stint here in school will assure her a great career as a realtime writer. Her precise writing style will assure her a big platform to display her talents in this field.”

The National Court Reporters Foundation (NCRF) is now accepting nominations for the Frank Sarli Memorial Scholarship and the Student Intern Scholarship. The deadline for both these scholarships is Dec. 1.

Frank Sarli Memorial Scholarship

NCRF’s Frank Sarli Memorial Scholarship of $2,000 has benefited court reporting students nearing graduation for 20 years. The award honors the late Frank Sarli, a court reporter who was committed to supporting students at the highest level of their education. Sarli, who was studying to become a professional pianist, turned to court reporting when he could no longer afford the tuition to music school. During his career, he opened Accurate Court Reporters in Orlando, Fla., Orange County’s first independent court reporting firm, and was a founding member of the Florida Shorthand Reporters Association. Sarli also served in numerous roles at the national level, including as a director for NCRA. He was the first Floridian to earn NCRA’s Distinguished Service Award.

“This scholarship helped me immensely because I was able to use some of the funds for my professional machine, which helped me enter the workforce without being in debt, the first leg of my RPR, and my airfare to attend the NCRA Convention in Chicago, which was incredibly inspiring and motivating for a new reporter/recent grad,” said Nicole Bulldis, RPR, an official court reporter in Pasco, Wash., and the 2016 recipient of the Sarli scholarship.

Court reporting students must be nominated by an instructor or advisor and meet a number of specific criteria to be eligible, including:

enrollment in an NCRA-approved court reporting program

passing at least one of the court reporting program’s Q&A tests at a minimum of 200 words per minute

having a GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale,

demonstrating the need for financial assistance

possessing the qualities exemplified by a professional court reporter, including attitude, demeanor, dress, and motivation

Student Intern Scholarship

Each year, NCRF awards two $1,000 scholarships to students who have completed or are currently performing the required internship portion of their court reporting program. They must also meet other specific criteria, including:

current membership in NCRA

having a grade point average of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale

attending an NCRA-approved court reporting program

A generous annual donation from the Reis Family Foundation helps fund these scholarships.

“Receiving [this scholarship], was a financial boon for my transition from student intern to working reporter,” said Stephen Sudano, a freelance court reporter from Bohemia, N.Y., and one of the 2016 recipients of the Student Intern Scholarship. “A career as a freelance court reporter requires a substantial investment to get off the ground. This scholarship helped pay for my professional equipment, and I appreciate it to this day.”

NCRF’s scholarships and grant are supported by donations to the NCRF Angels Drive and other fundraisers. To learn more about these scholarships, and to find the nomination forms, please visit NCRA.org/NCRF/Scholarships.

The National Court Reporters Foundation (NCRF) has announced that Cathy Carpenter, Orlando, Fla., was named recipient of the 2016 New Professional Reporter Grant. The Foundation also announced that Nicole Bulldis, a student from Green River Community College in Auburn, Wash., is the recipient of the 2016 Frank Sarli Memorial Scholarship.

“Being a new reporter can be a little intimidating because every day is something new and unknown, which is also what makes it so exciting,” said Carpenter. “One of the best things about court reporting is that there are so many people willing to help, teach, and do whatever is necessary to help new reporters, such as myself, succeed. Receiving this scholarship is a prime example of the support that is out there in our community, and I am extremely grateful for it as I am starting out in my career.”

NCRF awards the annual New Professional Reporter Grant to a reporter who is in his or her first year of work, has graduated within a year from an NCRA-certified court reporting program, and meets specific criteria, including a grade point average of 3.5 or above, a letter of recommendation, and active work in any of the career paths of judicial (official/freelance), CART, or captioning. Carpenter, a graduate of Sheridan Technical College, Hollywood, Fla., is the 12th recipient of NCRF’s New Professional Reporter Grant. She was recommended by Chelsey Bailey of First Choice Reporting & Video in Tampa, Fla.

Bailey recalled a memorable deposition when “Cathy handled a witness bringing his four-year-old son into the conference room during his deposition who continued to run around and scream over the attorneys. I still wonder how she was even able to take down the depo, but she managed to do so while also entertaining the little boy by pulling all of her supplies and belongings out her bag and allowing him to play with them. When it was over, the attorneys expressed to our office staff how grateful they were for Cathy’s professionalism.”

NCRF’s Frank Sarli Memorial Scholarship honors the late Frank Sarli, a court reporter who was committed to supporting students at the highest level of their learning curve. Bulldis is the 20th recipient of the scholarship. Recipients are chosen based on a number of criteria, including enrollment in an NCRA-certified court reporting program, passing at least one of the court reporting program’s Q&A tests at a minimum of 200 words per minute, having a grade point average of 3.5 or above, demonstrating the need for financial assistance, and possessing the qualities exemplified by a professional court reporter, including attitude, demeanor, dress, and motivation.

“I am so honored to be the 20th student who will benefit from this amazing scholarship,” said Bulldis. “I hope to serve Mr. Sarli’s memory well and look forward to the day I can pay it forward.”

Nominations are now being accepted by the National Court Reporters Foundation for the Frank Sarli Memorial Scholarship and the New Professional Reporter Grant. The deadline for both the scholarship and grant is March 18.

The Frank Sarli Memorial Scholarship of $2,000 has benefited court reporting students nearing graduation for nearly two decades. The New Professional Reporter Grant of $2,000 benefits a qualified new working reporter who has graduated from an NCRA-certified program within the past year. Both awards are based on nominations, and recipients must meet a number of criteria.

NCRF’s Frank Sarli Memorial Scholarship honors the late Frank Sarli, a court reporter who was committed to supporting students at the highest level of their education. Sarli, who was studying to become a professional pianist, turned to court reporting when he could no longer afford the tuition to music school. During his career, he opened Accurate Court Reporters in Orlando, Fla., Orange County’s first independent court reporting firm, and was a founding member of the Florida Shorthand Reporters Association. Sarli also served in numerous roles at the national level, including as a director for NCRA. He was the first Floridian to earn NCRA’s Distinguished Service Award.

“The Frank Sarli Memorial Scholarship not only helped me with the cost of schooling, but it also gave me the boost of confidence I needed to succeed through school and into this amazing profession,” said Kendra Steppler, who was the 2015 recipient of the scholarship.

“Realizing the director of my school believed in me through her nomination allowed for that. She also presented me with different experiences during school that allowed me to show my ability as a future reporter. Take on any task presented to you; it will lead to opportunity and reward,” added Steppler.

Steppler graduated from Sumner College in Portland, Ore., in June 2015 and is now an official court reporter for the First Judicial District Court in Helena, Mont. In the seven months since taking the job, she has had the opportunity to experience a number of amazing – and sometimes wild – scenarios, including a first transcript order for a case that was more than 800 pages.

“I was completely surprised when I received an email informing me I was being awarded with the Frank Sarli Memorial Scholarship. I had no idea I was even being nominated. It was very exciting and also extremely motivating. What a wonderful profession full of opportunity. I have the Frank Sarli Memorial Scholarship to thank for helping me along the way,” she added.

Both the scholarship and the grant are supported by donations to the NCRF Angels Drive and other fundraisers. Recipients will be recognized at the 2016 NCRA Convention & Expo., being held in Chicago, Ill., Aug. 4-8.

More information about all of NCRA’s and NCRF’s grants and scholarships can be found in the February issue of the JCR.

To learn more about the Frank Sarli Memorial Scholarship or the New Professional Reporter Grant, visit NCRA.org/Foundation.

The National Court Reporters Foundation has announced that Kendra Steppler, a student from Sumner College in Portland Ore., is the recipient of the $2,000 2015 Frank Sarli Memorial Scholarship. The Foundation also announced that Rachelle Cahoon, Boise, Idaho, was named recipient of the 2015 New Professional Reporter Grant. The winners will be recognized at NCRA’s 2015 Convention & Expo being held July 30-Aug. 2 in New York City.

“Each year the Foundation is honored to award this scholarship and this grant to deserving students to help them facilitate their education and launch their careers,” said B.J. Shorak, the Foundation’s Deputy Executive Director. “Both of these important awards are made possible by the generous donations we receive each year from our members during several of our annual fundraising activities.”

NCRF’s Frank Sarli Memorial Scholarship honors the late Frank Sarli, a court reporter who was committed to supporting students at the highest level of their learning curve. Steppler is the 19th recipient of the scholarship. Recipients are chosen based on a number of criteria, including enrollment in an NCRA-certified court reporting program, passing at least one of the court reporting program’s Q&A tests at a minimum of 200 words per minute, having a grade point average of 3.5 or above, demonstrating the need for financial assistance, and possessing the qualities exemplified by a professional court reporter, including attitude, demeanor, dress, and motivation.

NCRF awards the annual New Professional Reporter Grant to a reporter who is in her or her first year of work, has graduated within a year from an NCRA-certified court reporting program, and meets specific criteria, including a grade point average of 3.5 or above, a letter of recommendation, and active work in any of the career paths of judicial (official/freelance), CART, or captioning. Cahoon, a graduate of the College of Court Reporting, Hobart, Ind., is the 11th recipient of NCRF’s New Professional Reporter Grant. She was nominated by Annie Cook of Tucker and Associates in Boise and was described as a “powerhouse” who is expected to become an amazing realtime writer.

Nominations are now being accepted by the National Court Reporters Foundation for the Frank Sarli Memorial Scholarship and the New Professional Reporter Grant. The deadline for both the scholarship and grant is March 27.

The Frank Sarli Memorial Scholarship of $2,000 has benefited court reporting students nearing graduation for nearly two decades. The New Professional Reporter Grant of $2,000 benefits a qualified new working reporter who has graduated from an NCRA-certified program within the past year. Both awards are based on nominations and recipients must meet a number of criteria.

NCRF’s Frank Sarli Memorial Scholarship honors the late Frank Sarli, a court reporter who was committed to supporting students at the highest level of their learning curve. Sarli, who was studying to become a professional pianist, turned to a court reporting career when he could no longer afford the tuition to music school. During his career, he opened Accurate Court Reporters in Orlando, Fla., Orange County’s first independent court reporting firm, and was a founding member of the Florida Shorthand Reporters Association. Sarli also served in numerous roles at the national level, including as a director for NCRA. He was also the first Floridian to earn NCRA’s esteemed Distinguished Service Award.

Both the scholarship and the grant are supported by donations to the NCRF Angels Drive and other fundraising events. Recipients will be recognized at the 2015 NCRA Convention & Expo., being held in New York City, July 30 – Aug. 2.

To learn more about the Frank Sarli Memorial Scholarship or the New Professional Reporter Grant, visit NCRA.org/Foundation.

Donations to the NCRF Angels Drive and other fundraising efforts support a variety of activities funded by the Foundation, including the $2,000 Frank Sarli Memorial Scholarship, which has benefited court reporting students for nearly two decades.

“This scholarship helped get the ball rolling for my career. I used it to assist with the purchase of my professional steno machine and software,” said Justine Kiechel, from West Chester, Pa., a graduate of the College of Court Reporting in Hobart, Ind., and recipient of the 2014 scholarship.

“Getting started can be expensive. The scholarship definitely made it a little less challenging in that area. It was also an honor to list it on my resume,” added Kiechel, who now works as a freelance reporter in Delaware.

In a letter of thanks to NCRF, 2012 scholarship recipient Cynthia Garcia of Moreno Valley, Calif., a graduate of Sage College Court Reporting School in Southern California, stated that she also used the funds to help purchase a professional steno machine and software. In addition, she noted that being named a recipient helped motivate her to practice more while also building her dictionary.

“One day I hope to be in a position to help students achieve their goals just as [NCRF] has helped me,” Garcia wrote.

“This ever-important scholarship is made possible by the generous donations we receive each year from our members. The donations we receive are a clear reflection of how committed our members are to their profession,” said B.J. Shorak, the Foundation’s Deputy Executive Director.

Recipients for the scholarship are chosen based on a number of criteria, including enrollment in an NCRA-certified court reporting program, passing at least one of the court reporting program’s Q&A tests at a minimum of 200 words per minute, having a grade point average of 3.5 or above, demonstrating the need for financial assistance, and possessing the qualities exemplified by a professional court reporter, including attitude, demeanor, dress, and motivation.

NCRF’s Frank Sarli Memorial Scholarship honors the late Frank Sarli, a court reporter who was committed to supporting students at the highest level of their learning curve. Sarli, who was studying to become a professional pianist, turned to a court reporting career when he could no longer afford the tuition to music school. During his career, he opened Accurate Court Reporters in Orlando, Fla., Orange County’s first independent court reporting firm, and was a founding member of the Florida Shorthand Reporters Association. Sarli also served in numerous roles at the national level, including as a director for NCRA. He was also the first Floridian to earn NCRA’s esteemed Distinguished Service Award.

“There’s really no reason a student shouldn’t apply for this scholarship. It’s a simple application process, and it can contribute to your future in the court reporting profession,” said Kiechel.

Later this winter, NCRF will open the application process for students to apply for the Frank Sarli Memorial Scholarship, and the winner will be recognized at the 2015 NCRA Convention & Expo., being held in New York City, July 30 – Aug. 2. Learn more about how you can help support the Foundation’s work including the Frank Sarli Memorial Scholarship.

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